Improvement in washing-machines



ROBERT M. BRUCE.

Improvement in Washing Machines Patented Dec.12,1871.

QWMMQ Y PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. BRUCE, OF CAMP POINT, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,844, dated December12, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. BRUoE, of Camp Point, Adams county, Stateof Illinois, have invented an Improved Washing-Machine; and I do herebydeclare the following to be an exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of referencemarked thereon makin g a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1represents a top view of the washingmachine; Fig. 2, a sectionalelevation of the same; Fig. 3, a side-sectional elevation of the same;and Fig. 4 shows the adjustable pivoted catch that secures thehorizontal axle or shaft.

The nature of my invention consists in the removable cross-bar or falsebottom, with the upright tightening rods to stay the frame firmly andsecurely to the inside of the tub, the Indiarubber springs and the hooksand eyes for suspending the wash-board and rollers to the frame; and theadjustable boxing by which the cylinder is secured to the frame. Theadvantages and the objects are to prevent any lateral oscillation -ofmachine; washing any size clothing thoroughly without breaking thebuttons or damaging the lightest fabric, or even lace material; and onaccount of the easy springing and yielding of the wash-board severalpieces of clothing of different kinds can be washed at the same time,and no rough friction to wear or tear the clothes.

A represents the tub; B, the frame, composed of a cross-piece below, twouprights and a crosspiece above, the lower cross-piece having slots 0 G,in which the cross-pieces D D, of the lower ends of the stay-rods E,turn, so as to brace and tighten the upper cross-piece of frame Bbyscrewing down the thumb-screws F F. G G are the side-boards of thewash-board H, to which the washing-rollers J J are attached, and inwhich their journals revolve. K K are the India-rubber springs that arehooked onto the upright side-posts B B and the side-boards G G, so as togive an easy springing and yielding motion to the wash-board H. L is themain cylinder, fluted or grooved, between which and the rollers J J theclothes are washed by means of the shaft or axle M and crank N. Thewash-board H with its sideboards G G are suspended to the tub by hooksand eyes I P. At any time that the cylinder L is to be removed the catchR is disengaged, and the axle or shaft is drawn up and lifted from theframe B out of the slot S, the catch It working upon a pivot T at itslower end, and the upper end notched so as to clutch the axle and holdit in its place.

What I claim as my in\"ention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The movable frame B B, arranged with the stay-rods E E, India-rubbersprings K K, catch and lock R, and hooks and eyes P P, as attached tothe wash-board H, with the grooved cylinder L, when combined andconnected together so as to be attached to any ordinary tub, andoperated as herein described, and for the purposes set forth.

lt. M. BRUCE.

EDM. F. BROWN. 91)

